Fastgals

I'm so sorry. Lori Ann, I can't believe you're gone. DeVon, hugs to all of you from all of us. Girlie, you keep an eye out for Lori Ann now...

My deepest condolences.

I'm so sorry. God bless and care for Sally.

I'm so sorry . Godspeed, Walter.

Thank you all so much for your kind thoughts and support. I have arrived at work this morning and am quite overwhelmed - but also uplifted - by your messages. We are all grieving, but the so many wonderful memories of Girlie are providing great comfort. I still feel that I can reach out and touch her, enfold her in my arms, sense her smell, feel her soft coat and remember exactly what it felt like to place the softest kiss on her forehead. These things are such a comfort. Girlie lives on in my heart forever. Kindest regards and thanks, Jane and family.

Dear all, It is with enormous sadness I advise that we lost our precious Girlie yesterday evening. Girlie had been fighting a battle on all fronts - suspected congestive heart failure, diagnosis of splenic haemangiosarcoma and neuropathic degeneration. The haemangiosarcoma had only been confirmed via CT scan about 3 weeks ago, and although it was a very early Stage I lesion, we decided after much painful thought and research that the prognosis was not good enough to go ahead with an operation removing her spleen. We had hoped to have another couple of months with her, but, unbeknownst to anyone, Girlie was also developing bone cancer. At some stage yesterday - and I strongly hope it was only when she heard Tex coming home and tried to get up - she suffered a spontaneous fracture of the right humerous and Tex found her in her bed, unable to even sit up. At the Southern Animal Emergency Centre, we said good-bye to our beautiful Girlie. Girlie, you were the light of our lives. The sparkle in your eyes lit up our hearts with love. Thank you for the joy of your company these past, almost four years. We love you and we miss you, but thank you for all the wonderful memories you have left us. Always in our hearts, peace and God bless you Girlie - "Toorak Tourer". Jane and Tex, Maggie, Lulu and Marvin.

What a beautiful tribute. Ken and Heather, my deepest condolences. Kindest regards, Jane.

Girlie recently underwent a uni-lateral tieback operation for laryngeal paralysis. Girlie is 13 years old and LP is something that can appear in older large breeds. In effect, the LP is now "cured" - so she no longer has this condition. As far as I'm aware no other health problems, apart from the usual age-related rear-end stiffness. The other two, Maggie - 8 and Lulu - 4, are in excellent health and apart from the very occasional sprain/strain type injury, are not prone to illness.

I walk Maggie and Lulu early every morning for around 45 mins, and this includes a run in a fenced sportsfield (while Girlie - 13yo - sleeps in). They are happy to relax after this (and breakfast!) while I go off to work. My OH works on a casual basis, so they sometimes have company during the working day - and when he does work, he gets home a couple of hours earlier than me so it pans out really well. When I get home in the early evening, I walk Maggie and Lulu again for up to an hour - occasionally more, and then if Girlie wants a ride in the car, I take her out for a little potter about in a park. On weekends walks can be longer and more leisurely (when Lulu and I aren't zooming around in the sidecar, that is ). We love our walks and love to walk fast - great exercise for all of us. Nothing much in the way of extreme weather here so we can walk on a virtually daily basis, all year round. I do seem to spend virtually my entire time outside work doing doggie stuff....but that's what I wanted and why I adopted . Regards, Jane.

Girlie turned 13 on 26 December last year. Our next oldest is Maggie - at 8 years, still a youngster! Regards, Jane.

Burpdog, Any interest in Australian replies to this? I could copy the details to our local forums, if that's appropriate. Thanks, Jane.

I'm so sorry for your loss. Goodbye and God bless, Amos. Regards, Jane.

I am so sorry. My deepest condolences. Jane.

Shirley, my sympathies to you and Pinto's family. How sad. Jane.

I am so sorry. Big hugs from all of us . I can only imagine how you must feel. The grieving process can be a long and painful time. Day by day you have to ride it out. It will lift. I have, in the past, following the death of other companion animals felt a strong need shortly afterwards to adopt and care for another animal in need of a home. Somehow, having to throw myself into caring for another creature who cannot care for itself, taking on that responsibility and the comforting and settling in of a new addition to the family helps me understand that life goes on and still has purpose. And, that there are others out there who need me . I'm so sorry for your grief - but it is natural and eventually you will remember with a fond smile, perhaps a little teary eyed, but the flood will have eased. Kindest regards, and kisses from our gentle lady, Girlie, Jane.

I'm so sorry. God speed, Madonna. Jane.

Thank you, everyone, for your loving responses to Lady's sad story. It warms my heart to know that she hasn't passed unnoticed. I like to think that by now, the Lady has collected a lovely stash of angel feathers and (absolutely no disrespect intended) probably our Lord's slippers as well. And nobody calls her a thief - her exploits are met with laughter, joy and affection. Thank you all for caring. Regards, Jane.

Dear all, I heard the end of this terrible story last weekend. It has played on my mind all week, and I'm posting this farewell because I can't just let her go quietly and unknown. I never even knew her name, so I'll call her Lady. She was 11 years old, and her owner wanted to hand her in to our local Adoption Program, but there was no room at the kennels, unless Lady proved herself to be cat-tolerant. She wasn't. So, her owner, not prepared to wait for a vacancy, took Lady straight to the RSPCA and handed her in. The RSPCA would normally have PTS a grey Lady's age, but did not - ONLY because our Adoption Program was still looking for someone who could take Lady, either permanently, or on a long-term foster basis until the right home could be found. On the day Lady arrived at the RSPCA, a woman, I shall call "that woman" was there returning a little grey girl, Lulu, she had adopted the week before. Lulu, said that woman, terrified her two little dogs, so she had to return her. That woman saw Lady and immediately offered to take her instead. RSPCA staff told her no. Lady was not suitable for her home, that woman could not just return one grey and take another. Lady had to be found a permanent home, hopefully with someone already experienced with greys. That woman left, but then got directly in touch with Lady's previous owner and convinced him to reclaim Lady from the RSPCA and hand her over to her. "I'll give her a good home", said that woman. The next week that woman brought Lady back to the RSPCA. "I'm returning her", she said. "She's a thief." Despite being told by RPSCA staff that she was condeming Lady to death by returning her, that woman had made up her mind. A staff member gave her a piece of her mind and then that woman was gone. And the Lady is no more Dear Lady, I'm so sorry that this is all I know about you. I'm so sorry that I couldn't expose our cats to danger by bringing you home. I'm so sorry that the people who were thinking about fostering you, didn't have a chance to come and get you, before that woman did. I am so sorry that the last thing anyone said about you was that you were "a thief". I am so sorry that all I can do now is cry useless tears over what happened. But I want you to know someone cries for you. Lady, I also want you to know that little Lulu didn't come after you, because she is now safely with us. God bless and keep you, Lady. Run free and happy, fast as the wind. Jane and the mob.

I can't stop my tears this morning. God bless the Lady Sophia and bless you and your family, Patrica. May you have the peace of happy memories, knowing that Sophia will always live in your hearts. My deepest condolences. Run free, Sophia, now in God's care. Jane, Tex - the gals: Girlie and Maggie and felines: Marvin and Miss Desi

I am so sorry. Deepest sympathy for your loss. Bless you Gramma, running at the bridge now. Jane.

Patricia, thank you so much for starting this remembrance post for Bingo. Bingo, we would have liked to get to know you better, but we all followed your story - concerned that you should find the right, loving home. I trust that you did and that you were loved and happy there. Run free Bingo and enjoy the love of the others waiting at the bridge . My deepest condolences to Bingo's guardians. Jane and family.

Oh Shirley! How awful! How easily it can happen. My condolences to Snow and her family - and to you. Godspeed Snow.

More tears here too. What a lovely tribute to Cody. Hugs to you, your daughter and Bailey. Run free, Cody - your feet have wings now. Jane and family.

Has Rocky turned up yet? Have any of your neighbours just gone on vacation - I've heard of cats being accidentally shut in someone else's garage for a few days. And when I was a kid, my cat got trapped under the house next door when they had brick cladding installed. We had to dig a little trench under the panelling so she could get out.

I'm just catching up with the weekend's post, and see this. Oh, Ailish. Sarah, my deepest sympathy and condolences for your loss. I'm so sorry, I don't know what to say. I'm trying not to blub at my desk. Your story captured my heart, beautiful Ailish, I'm doing my best to be happy for you now, free from pain and running in the wind. Big hugs from us all. Jane and family.